Best cities for a senior optical engineer
The best cities for senior optical engineers are Austin, TX, El Paso, TX, and Fort Worth, TX, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for senior optical engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for senior optical engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a senior optical engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for senior optical engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for senior optical engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a senior optical engineer. While the absolute best city for senior optical engineers is Austin, TX, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for senior optical engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a senior optical engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for senior optical engineers in 2026
1. Austin, TX
Total senior optical engineer jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $117,322 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000 Location quotient: 4.88 2. El Paso, TX
Total senior optical engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $117,521 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $162,000 Location quotient: 0.00 3. Fort Worth, TX
Total senior optical engineer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $116,717 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $161,000 Location quotient: 9.87 4. San Antonio, TX
Total senior optical engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $117,284 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Lubbock, TX
Total senior optical engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $117,273 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $162,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Houston, TX
Total senior optical engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $117,201 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Dallas, TX
Total senior optical engineer jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $116,544 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $161,000 Location quotient: 6.22 8. Arlington, TX
Total senior optical engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $116,692 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $161,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Irving, TX
Total senior optical engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $116,511 Lowest 10 percent warn: $84,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $161,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Corpus Christi, TX
Total senior optical engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $117,027 Lowest 10 percent warn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000 Location quotient: 0.00
Best cities for senior optical engineers
- Austin, TX
- El Paso, TX
- Fort Worth, TX
- San Antonio, TX
- Lubbock, TX
- Houston, TX
- Dallas, TX
- Arlington, TX
- Irving, TX
- Corpus Christi, TX
- (6 senior optical engineer jobs)
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- (3 senior optical engineer jobs)
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- (7 senior optical engineer jobs)
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Detailed list of the best cities for a senior optical engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin, TX | $117,322 | $84,000 | 947,890 | 6 |
| 2 | El Paso, TX | $117,521 | $84,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 3 | Fort Worth, TX | $116,717 | $84,000 | 854,113 | 3 |
| 4 | San Antonio, TX | $117,284 | $84,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 5 | Lubbock, TX | $117,273 | $84,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 6 | Houston, TX | $117,201 | $84,000 | 2,303,482 | - |
| 7 | Dallas, TX | $116,544 | $84,000 | 1,317,929 | 7 |
| 8 | Arlington, TX | $116,692 | $84,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 9 | Irving, TX | $116,511 | $84,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 10 | Corpus Christi, TX | $117,027 | $83,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 11 | Garland, TX | $116,295 | $84,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 12 | Laredo, TX | $116,904 | $83,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 13 | Plano, TX | $116,147 | $83,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 14 | Reno, NV | $110,741 | $79,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 15 | Seattle, WA | $125,157 | $92,000 | 704,352 | 3 |
| 16 | Fremont, CA | $122,114 | $87,000 | 233,136 | 6 |
| 17 | Las Vegas, NV | $105,418 | $74,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 18 | North Las Vegas, NV | $105,381 | $74,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 19 | Henderson, NV | $104,784 | $74,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 20 | San Jose, CA | $121,862 | $86,000 | 1,025,350 | 22 |
| 21 | San Francisco, CA | $122,538 | $87,000 | 870,887 | - |
| 22 | Memphis, TN | $93,982 | $69,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 23 | Oakland, CA | $122,411 | $87,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 24 | Nashville, TN | $92,832 | $69,000 | 660,388 | - |
| 25 | Sacramento, CA | $122,255 | $87,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 26 | Stockton, CA | $121,987 | $87,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 27 | Albuquerque, NM | $93,567 | $67,000 | 559,277 | 4 |
| 28 | Cleveland, OH | $89,462 | $66,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 29 | Oklahoma City, OK | $91,688 | $67,000 | 638,367 | - |
| 30 | Fresno, CA | $120,089 | $85,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 31 | Cincinnati, OH | $86,619 | $64,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 32 | Detroit, MI | $90,697 | $67,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 33 | Toledo, OH | $88,358 | $66,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 34 | Washington, DC | $122,949 | $91,000 | 681,170 | - |
| 35 | Columbus, OH | $87,771 | $65,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 36 | Bakersfield, CA | $117,018 | $83,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 37 | Tulsa, OK | $89,680 | $66,000 | 403,090 | 1 |
| 38 | Colorado Springs, CO | $103,702 | $75,000 | 465,101 | - |
| 39 | Aurora, CO | $102,361 | $74,000 | 361,710 | - |
| 40 | Anchorage, AK | $100,337 | $78,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 41 | Denver, CO | $102,352 | $74,000 | 693,060 | - |
| 42 | Fort Wayne, IN | $85,844 | $64,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 43 | Long Beach, CA | $112,190 | $79,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 44 | Philadelphia, PA | $86,837 | $64,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 45 | Anaheim, CA | $112,114 | $79,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 46 | Riverside, CA | $111,938 | $79,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 47 | Santa Ana, CA | $111,875 | $79,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 48 | Los Angeles, CA | $113,038 | $80,000 | 3,976,322 | - |
| 49 | Irvine, CA | $111,663 | $79,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 50 | Orlando, FL | $92,193 | $65,000 | 277,173 | 9 |
Highest paying cities for senior optical engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. senior optical engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $125,157 |
| 2 | Redwood City, CA | $122,257 |
| 3 | Fort Worth, TX | $116,717 |
| 4 | Piscataway, NJ | $102,448 |
| 5 | Westminster, CO | $102,399 |
| 6 | Cambridge, MA | $95,768 |
| 7 | Albuquerque, NM | $93,567 |
| 8 | Orlando, FL | $92,193 |
| 9 | Farmington Hills, MI | $90,621 |
| 10 | Tucson, AZ | $87,784 |
| 11 | Huntsville, AL | $86,092 |
| 12 | Peachtree City, GA | $85,383 |
| 13 | Hilo, HI | $80,908 |
| 14 | Ithaca, NY | $79,030 |
Senior optical engineer best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025